Kyler Murray will be looking to revitalize his NFL career with the Minnesota Vikings after the Arizona Cardinals cut ties with the former No. 1 pick this offseason. As a result, Murray is looking to be the next QB to be rehabilitated by head coach Kevin O’Connell.
Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones benefited from their time with O’Connell, and now Murray looks to be the next QB. Nonetheless, Murray is in a QB battle alongside J.J. McCarthy and Carson Wentz, but the 28-year-old is the favorite to emerge victorious.
Still, with Murray being the favorite to win the starting job, Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton listed the Vikings signal-caller as one of the QBs who face the most pressure this upcoming 2026 season.
“Kyler Murray’s career could go in one of two ways,” Moton wrote in his May 2 article. “On the one hand, Murray could prove that he’s a quality starter in a career resurgence with the Minnesota Vikings, but if he struggles, it could be the start of a journeyman stage in his pro outlook…
“Heading to Minnesota, Murray can reinvent himself with a strong supporting cast of pass-catchers that includes two-time All-Pro Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and two-time Pro Bowler T.J. Hockenson.
“Like Sam Darnold, who flourished in lead skipper Kevin O’Connell’s offense before winning a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks, Murray will have a chance to show he can lead a winning club with good coaching.”
Can Minnesota Keep Kyler Murray Long-Term?
With many expecting Murray to win the job, and if he lives up to his potential as a former No. 1 pick, the question is whether the Vikings can afford to keep him long-term. The Minnesota Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling shared his thoughts on this potential scenario.
“I think [the next contract] will depend on the year he has,” Goessling said on the April 28 edition of “StribSports Daily Delivery.” “It will depend on the market that exists for him. If he plays well, there will be a market, but will people think it’s sustainable?”
Moreover, Goessling could see the Vikings going down the same path as the Seattle Seahawks did with Sam Darnold, who signed a three-year, $100.5 million contract in 2025. Still, he does mention a number that might be too rich for Minnesota.
“If it’s [the Darnold deal] for Kyler Murray, I think that is plausible,“ Goessling added. “If you’re getting into those max-type $50 million per year contracts while also paying Justin Jefferson, I just can’t see that.”
Lincoln Riley on Kyler Murray Signing With the Vikings
All the talk of Murray’s next contract will come down to how he performs, but his former college head coach, Lincoln Riley, expects big things from his former QB now that he’s with the Vikings.
“Watch out for Kyler Murray in Minnesota, “ Riley said on an April 17 appearance on “The Jim Rome Show.” “I love, love the pairing of him with Kevin O’Connell. I think Kevin’s fabulous. And watch out with those two together. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”
Furthermore, Riley went into further detail about why he believes Murray will benefit from having O’Connell as his head coach.
“KOC is a good enough coach, “Riley added. “He will figure out what is best for the skill sets he has. I know he is excited about Kyler Murray and his skill set. I know Murray is equally excited to join that type of organization, a championship-level organization from top to bottom that is run the right way.”
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